November 17, 2009

Occasionally, two kinds of genius collide in a way that makes so much sense you wonder how the world survived before without the combined force....

In the early 1990s, Seattle-based avant-jazz guitarist Bill Frisell took on the enviable task of composing scores for six silent films from the 1920s starring Buster Keaton. Frisell and his trio began performing the soundtracks for a live audience with VHS copies of the films projected on stage. Reissues of the films including the Frisell scores have been a point of discussion (and Frisell's ultimate desire for the work) off and on in the nearly fifteen years since the scores were created but plans never seemed to fully materialized. Finally, last September three of the six pieces (Go West, The High Sign, One Week) were made available on DVD as "Films of Buster Keaton, Music by Bill Frisell" complete with the "new" scores performed by Frisell, bassist Kermit Driscoll, and drummer Joey Baron. Nonesuch has also released the scores as a separate CD. Any fan of film or music should own this set.

November 13, 2009

There's nothing new under the sun, friends. A couple of days ago, David Colman of the New York Timesposted this piece on a worldwide movement in fashion that seems to be growing amongst young gentlemen (and ladies). The trend, which has at its core a late 19th century Victorian sensibility, includes elements such as groomed mustaches, bowlers, taxidermy, suspenders, wool pants, English bicycles and lots and lots of tweed.

On an unrelated note, a more obscure but ultra-hip trend in men's fashion seems to be gaining popularity here in Tennessee. Its core elements include coon skin caps, buck skin breeches, trapping for fur trade, log construction, cholera, and being incredibly uncomfortable.

November 10, 2009

From the 1979 edition of The Official Boy Scout Handbook: "The Scout patrol is the finest boys' club in the world.....It is a group of boys, usually six to eight, who pal together because they like to do the same kinds of things. A patrol is a team.....All of you work toward the same goal. All of you have a wonderful time. In the patrol, you learn what fun it is to plan exciting things to do with some of your best friends...to hike and camp together...to sing and laugh together homeward bound from a strenuous hike or around a flickering campfire...to work together to meet the tests that will carry all of you onward and upward....."

Below are a few timeless images of the true patrol in action. As always, thanks for joining our patrol by stopping by and checking things out.